High School and Beyond

“I can always spot St. Paul’s kids — they are the ones with the can-do attitudes, who are grounded and comfortable with the praxis as well as theories of difference and social justice, who are academically prepared and willing to question, to ponder, and to enjoy themselves while doing so.”— A teacher at a leading independent high school

The High School Admissions Process

From practicing shaking hands (firm grip) to drafting high school application essays (relate your personal information to the essay question), eighth grade students have been preparing to apply to high school. What follows is a look at the high school decision-making process at St. Paul's.

Starting the Process

While many families have high school admissions on their minds from sixth grade onward, the process officially begins at St. Paul's during the summer after seventh grade. Director of Sixth Grade and Middle School Christine Fairless sends a letter to families of incoming eighth graders, including a survey for students to fill out about themselves as learners, their interests and questions about different high school options: How do they learn best - projects, group work, research papers? What do they like to do outside of school? What are some key factors for them in deciding upon a high school - school size, technology, advanced course options, sports?

Using the survey as a starting place for conversation, the student and parents meet with Ms. Fairless over the summer to discuss options. Families may be considering independent, parochial and/or public school options. For families that have decided to enroll their children at Berkeley High School, Oakland Technical High School, or another public school, Ms. Fairless shares her knowledge of that process and refers parents to other St. Paul's families that have students in those schools.

Students Own the Process

Ms. Fairless reviews the student's scores from the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) test that all St. Paul's students take. If a family is considering independent or parochial schools, Ms. Fairless discusses how to prepare for the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) and/or the High School Placement Test (HSPT), which is used by Catholic schools. As she begins to suss out schools of interest, Ms. Fairless directs the conversation toward the student. "This is a time for students to take ownership of the process," says Ms. Fairless.

The two most important elements of the application.

This sense of ownership is key as eighth graders facing a long list of tasks involved in completing applications. Ms. Fairless presents them with a calendar that maps out tasks, including dates to:

To prepare for the essay and the interview - two crucial aspects of the application - students can sign up to do a mock interview with Ms. Fairless and turn to eighth grade humanities teachers Mr. Baker or Ms. Belkin for help refining their writing.

Through the fall, high school representatives come to campus to meet interested St. Paul's students, including representatives of College Preparatory School, Head-Royce, Lick-Wilmerding, Bentley, University High School, Urban, Athenian and more. Bishop O'Dowd and St. Mary's invite visits to their campuses on a half day set aside specifically for St. Paul's students.

Three recommendations are submitted with applications: from the eighth grade English teacher, from the eighth grade Math teacher, and from the Director of the Middle School.

By all measures, the process can be stressful, but Ms. Fairless offers support and encouragement.

St. Paul's students are sought by top high schools.

Each year our graduates and their families go through a supportive process to choose a high school that will provide them with the environment and experiences they seek. Our students enroll at independent, parochial, public, and charter high schools, and they thrive at all of them.

Over the last four years, multiple graduates have enrolled at:

The Athenian School

Bentley School

College Preparatory School

Head-Royce School

International High School

Lick-Wilmerding High School

Maybeck High School

Bishop O'Dowd High School

Moreau Catholic High School

Salesian College Preparatory

St. Joseph Notre Dame

St. Mary's College High School

Berkeley High School

Oakland School for the Arts

Oakland Technical High School

Skyline High School

Individual students have enrolled at other local and national schools as well.

Alumni Weigh In on Their St. Paul's Years

Quote 2

"I've learned algebra, what a pentameter is, how to conjugate the Spanish verb “gustar”, and about the gold rush. While these lessons are crucial, they do not encompass the most important part of my experience here, the strong community and friendships I've acquired."

—Elizabeth

Quote 5

"The hands-on experience in science meant a lot to me. Because of my education at St. Paul’s, I’m going to be a physicist."

—Yohannes

Quote 4

"Our unit in world religions on Judaism and other religions really sparked my curiosity."

—Levi

Quote 3

"Because of my education at St. Paul’s I am a stronger person. I can hold my head high and be proud of who I am. I am now ready to face whatever challenges the world has in store for me."

—Aleisha

Quote 1

"I am a better writer, a stronger mathematician, a musician with talent I didn’t know I had."

—Henry

Quote 6

"Sitting in Chapel with my Kindergarten buddy was great. I got to spend time with her and each time I learned more about her."